The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-27
HER TERRIBLE GRIEF.
A Touching Picture Of Mrs
Parsons at
THE COFFIN OF HER HUSBAND
Her Proud Spirit Completely Broken
"A Scene Which Became
UnbearabIe.

reader have heard Mrs. Lucy Parsons
utter these broken words, broken and
baptized by her sobs and means and
cries, as she lay with her face upon the
glass of the casket within three inches
of that of her dead husband, he or she
must have been moved to pity, and pro-
badly to tears.
1t was terrible scene, and one which
the few who witnessed it will ever pray
may not be repeated in their experien-
ces. Two thousand persons, men and
women, had pressed their way up two
narrow flights of stairs, had glanced at
the face of the dead Anarchist, and had
been hurried down again. All was in
readiness for placing the cover over the
| glass above the dead mans face, thus
! shutting him forever from human gaze.
| The rooms had been cleared. None but
members of local assembly No .307
! Knights of Labor, and immediate
friends Of the family were permitted to
remain. Mrs. Parsons was about TO
take farewell of the body. She was in
the adjoining room in the keeping OF
Mrs. Ames and Mrs. Holmes. Poor
Mrs. Parsons She rerved herself to
| the ordeal, and in response to the plead
ings of Mrs. Ames. who, by the way, is
a brave little woman, but at this critical
moment WAS almost as much exclted
and overcome as the widow, she pro-
missed to do her best.
Il will be just as quiet as l can" said
| Mrs. Parsons, SIS Mr.. Oliver took one
arm and Mrs. Ames the other. She rose
partly and then sank back. For a
| moment her lips were compressed and
| her eyes rolled convulsively, but the
| struggle was against her. One long
| &gonizing cry pierced the air. 1t was
the Cry of despair, and it came from an
aching, breaking heart, "Oh! l cannot
! live; l must die, | must die; o! wha.
shall do?" and each word and syllable
was drawn out in piteous appeals, such
as can come only from the soul swept
by the blasts of despair. She would
have rushed upon the casket but was
held back. Small pieces of ice were
placed in her mouth, and she ate them
with an uncontrollable thirst. Every
effort was made to calm her, and for
half a minute the crying ceased, and
then desolate moan: "Oh, | cannot
live; let me see him; I want to see
bimw Her friends decided to venture
taking her 10 the side of the casket. The
strong arm of l.. s. Oliver, president of
the Amnesty Association, supported
her about the waist, while both Mrs,
Holmes and Mrs. Ames held her arms,
and she entered the room with head
thrown back, dressed ready for the
funeral. Her steps were measured and
slow, but her strength had gone. She
was supported entirely by her attend
ants. Until her eyes caught glimpse
of the pallid face there were only sup
pressed means to be heard, then she
cried out frantically: 10 Pa Pa!'
and then turning her face partly away
she cried: 30! God! o. Pa! Pa!
Speak to me; speak to mel' There
was no movement of the lips now cold
in death, no response to her Imploring
cry, and she fell upon the casket partly
supported by those who held her with |
her face upon the:glass and within two
or three inches OF that of the dead.
The scene became unbearab!e. Cries |
and sobs were heard in every part of the |
rooms. The women moaned as if her |
grief were really contagious, and hot |
tears ran down the cheeks of every man |
present. Her cries were understandable |
and her grief appeared to be beyond |
telling Presently she Gained herself |
somewhat aud became silent and
motionless. Then she partly raised her
head and uttered her last words over
the body of Ter husband. If they
were not the words of heartfelt PRAYER
to Supreme Being the reporter niistook
tAs meaning Of her gestures and misin-
terpreted the spirit OF her cry.
"Oh! oh! my! my God" These
werds were uttered with all her remain
ing powers. Could it be possible that
the once strong-hearted woman who
had so often preached anarchy and who
mad long since discarded all religious
faith; could 1t be that the champion of
the red flag, the bold-hearIed agitator
who declared few months ago at Shelf
held. Ind, that she was an Anarchist
and reVeiutlonist, had in her hour of {
sorrow turned back to the God of her I
childhood and sough eomfortin PRAYER? ,
Yes, such was the case. Her grief was
acre than she could bear. Her heart
pleaded for balm that Anarchy could /
1ot give, but which seemed in soms !
to come in response to her !
sgOnizing appeal, for she settled back I
nto her chair AID consumed several .
5ieces of ice, and was in 8 small degree :
luleted. She sat and gazed into the
ace of her dead husband for several l
and then rising without as /!
walked into the front parlor.
n short time she was conducted to g
he back room again, passing the casket 8
With only hurried glance. A moment I
ater there was slight cry, and then !
IL was quiet. The easket lid had been I
crewed, but not 10 remain. William .
Holmes hurried out and gave directions !
rom Mrs. Parsons that a lock of hair G
Tas to be eat frem the dead mans q
lead. The coffin was opened, and while .
n attendant with pair OF scissors was v
arefnlly securing the treasure, Mrs. :,
'arsons, probably overhearing the work L
f removing the easket cover, again 6
roke into weeping Mr.. Oliver ran to G
er side, and with the help of Mrs. E
mes persuaded her to re quiet.
She had been unconSolable all day.
nd II was the belief of some of those e
4 attendance that had she been left q
ing enough to herself she would have e,
lade an attempt to take her own life. r.
D one Of her spasms yesterday, she u
ii at her wrist in a way that suggested Y
design to open an artery, but il would "
OF be fair to state that such was her d
ioHye. She was frantic with grief and &c
ta.-,lI, ri